David Hume's Philosophy: Establishing the Science of Human Nature

David Hume's Science of Human Nature

David Hume's philosophy centers on the two fundamental areas that constitute Human Nature (HN): the world of rationality (knowledge) and the world of feelings (morality).

The Foundation of Humean Empiricism

Hume's main purpose was to establish a rigorous science of Human Nature based on the principles of scientific empiricism. According to this framework, any idea (thought) must be traceable back to an original impression. Impressions are clear and evident; they are not argued against because they are perceived by the senses or are internal manifestations characteristic of human nature.

The Science of Human Nature is fundamentally based on the science of man, proposing a knowledge capable of answering the question: “What is man?” Hume sought to address all problems of humanity through this knowledge, incorporating it under a new mode of philosophizing.

The Centrality of Human Nature in Science

In the introduction to his Treatise of Human Nature, Hume states that all sciences are related, to a greater or lesser degree, to Human Nature. The advancement of the human mind is intrinsically linked to four key sciences:

• Logic: Explains our reasoning, the nature of our ideas, our knowledge, and its foundations.
• Morality and Art Criticism: Treat our tastes and feelings.
• Politics: Based on the belief that men need each other for societal structure.

These four sciences are considered more dependent on human knowledge than other fields, such as mathematics, natural philosophy, and natural religion.

The Science of Man: The Solid Foundation

The science of man is presented as the only solid foundation among all other disciplines. It must be experiential, rigorously based on observation.

Challenges of the Empirical Method in Philosophy

It is important to recognize that the empirical method faces unique challenges when dealing with both inanimate nature (Natural Philosophy) and Human Nature (Moral Philosophy).

Moral Philosophy, specifically, has a disadvantage compared to Natural Philosophy (which defends the idea that all our passions are natural instincts derived solely from the human self). This disadvantage stems from the fact that moral experiments cannot be performed with a predetermined purpose.

To gain deeper insight into Human Nature, we must rely on careful observation of the natural course of human life, including tastes and pleasures.

Establishing General Principles

The final step toward knowledge in the Science of Human Nature involves comparing experiments and classifying philosophical science. Human nature depends on the factual—empirical evidence based on the cause-effect relationship.

Ultimately, the Science of Man attempts to establish general principles for life, founded on the observation necessary to understand humanity and the causes of its existence.